Jay Tee, 30, has been a drug addict since he was a teenager. He has tried to
kick the habit many times; going in and out of rehabilitation centers. He
managed to stay clean for a month before suffering a
relapse. There are many drug addicts like Jay Tee. Why are
they into it in the first place? It doesn't matter if you are
white or black or Asian or Latin, every race has their share of drug abuse
problems.Some people say that it is due to the perception of drugs being "bad
and illegal" and therefore something so irresistible that you just have to try
it. Somehow, teenagers are more curious to discover the "forbidden fruit". Some
manage to kick the habit early but there are many others who are trapped.
For many teenagers, drug abuse is a mere escape. They use drugs to get out of
their misery, pain, confusion and loneliness. Some teenage drug addicts grow up
without guidance from their parents, and so they resort to drugs. Some are
physically or mentally abused and drugs become the only thing that they are able
to count on. Many succumb to drug addiction because of the need to feel like
they belong. They try drugs to please their friends or to be part of a group.
Many teenage drug abusers are also low achievers in schools and have low
self-esteem.
There are also teenagers who claim that they were first exposed to different
kinds of drugs at parties and discos. These drugs were distributed freely the
first few times and they kept coming back for more. As a result, many of them
became addicted even before they knew it. In certain cases, these teenagers
might resort to committing crimes to support their expensive habit.
One effective tool in the fight against teen drug abuse is communication.
Troubled teens need some form of outlet from the problems or depression they are
facing. Parents should take time out from their busy schedules to spend time
with their children and listen to their problems. Communication, however, should
go beyond words. Parents should show their children that they really care.
Adequate parental supervision has also been found to be a deterrent to drug use
in youth. Parents should know who their children's friends are and what is going
on in their social lives. School counselors should also play an active role in
providing information on drug abuse and also provide emotional support.
One common belief is that drug abusers should be able to stop taking drugs if
only they are willing to change their behavior. However, drug addiction is a
disease that affects the brain and because of that,
stopping drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower. Drug abuse can affect a
person's self-control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time
send intense impulses to take drugs. Through scientific advances, we now know
that the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the
brain and at the same time, we also know that drug addiction can be successfully
treated to help people get over their addiction and resume productive lives.
At the end of the day, the best way to prevent drug addiction is by educating
teenagers about it. The more they learn about the bad effects, the less their
excuses to take it. This may even dissuade them from using it. |
